Looking for a super awesome guide to the best outdoor solar motion lights? You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to our humble, little blog on all things eco-friendly. And today, we want to give you a run-down of the outdoor solar motion lights that are a cut above the rest.

And believe us, we love these lights as much as the next outdoor enthusiast. There’s something amazing about harnessing the power of the sun to generate light. We almost feel like scientists doing so. The fact that they trigger due to movement can also provide a certain peace of mind that you have to experience to believe.

No need to worry about what’s skulking in the dark. And if you are coming home late, then you can rest easy knowing that your path is brightly lit.

When you can take advantage of a free energy resource like solar energy, why wouldn’t you?

By doing so, you can light outdoor and certain indoor areas (sheds, for example) without increasing your electric bill. And by relying less on the power grid, you are also helping the environment.

If you want to learn more about how to pick out the perfect set of outdoor solar motion lights, you can skip this part of the list.

Otherwise, we hope you enjoy our picks for the best outdoor solar motion lights!

Note: We are committed to extensively researching and recommending the best products on the market. We are partnered with Amazon’s affiliate program and may receive commissions from affiliate links within our content, which comes at no extra cost to you.

Top 10 Best Outdoor Solar Motion Lights

#1 – Solar Lights Outdoor, 2 Pack AmeriTop 128 LED 800LM Cordless LED Solar Motion Sensor Lights

Key Features:

• 800 lumens, 6500K high brightness output
• Sensitive auto turn on and auto turn off
• Ideal for illuminating entryways and patios

The AmeriTop Outdoor Solar Lights offer strong incentives for using their lights.

For starters, these lights are very bright. Clocking in at 800 lumens, you can be certain that any outdoor area would be flush with bright light. With a brightness degree of 6500K, the light is powerfully white.

The sensitivity of the motion sensor is pretty high. You won’t need to get too close in order to activate the light. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be unreasonably sensitive and picks up things like leaves rustling. However, the detection isn’t as strong when approaching from the side of the lights, so you will need to get a bit closer in these instances.

These lights are great for lighting entryways and patios, but you aren’t limited to just those places. You can also put it on fences or even attach it directly to your house. The light is bright and large enough so that it can be placed rather high up, giving you a greater lighting range.

Pros:

1. Strong visibility
2. Great functionality.
3. High brightness.

Cons:

1. Lights may die out quickly after repeated usage.

Overall, the AmeriTop Outdoor Solar Lights is a good choice for people who want an easy introduction to solar lights. These will provide enough lighting and features for a variety of purposes, making them a great default pick for those who don’t want to comb through tons of options.

#2 – HMCITY Solar Lights Outdoor 120 LED with Lights Reflector and 3 Lighting Modes

Key Features:

• Solar conversion rate up to 20.5%
• Equipped with 120 high-powered LEDs & 270° wide-angle lighting
• Ideal for illuminating patios and general outdoor illumination

If you are looking to cover a wide area, HMCITY Solar Lights has got you covered.

These outdoor solar lights offer a competitive solar conversion rate of 20.5%, meaning that they will take less than a day to fully charge when exposed to the sun.

Due to the large width of the LEDs and the intensity of the lights, you will be able to illuminate even the darkest areas with light generated directly from the day’s sun. However, it’s important to note that these lights do not project very far, making them ideal for illuminating wider areas like patios.

Pros:

1. Easy to install.
2. Very bright for the area that they cover.
3. Excellent motion detectors.

Cons:

1. Hypersensitive to movement – they tend to frequently activate.
2. The lights must be unmounted in order to change their settings.
3. Due to frequent activation, the lights may not last through the whole night.

Overall, these lights are a solid option for covering areas shorter yet wider areas that are otherwise difficult to light, mainly patios or outdoor entryways. If that sounds great to you, then consider picking up the HMCITY Solar Lights.

#3 – Dimunt Solar Lights Outdoor, 176 LED Wireless Led Solar Motion Sensor Lights Outdoor

Key Features:

• Certified IP65 – Waterproof and General Weatherproof
• Rotatable design
• Ideal for illuminating porches and backyards

The Dimunt Solar Lights are specialized to withstand mother nature while also taking advantage of natural solar energy.

These solar panels are certified IP65, which basically means that they are protected from dust and moisture. This prevents the lights and the panels from being comprised, which greatly extends the life of both – which is more money you get to keep in your pocket.

The product is designed to be rotatable, meaning that the side panels can be adjusted 90 degrees up or down while the solar panel can be adjusted 120 degrees up or down. This gives you the freedom and flexibility to orient your panels as needed; for example, you can direct your lights to pinpoint key areas that need to be brightened while choosing the perfect angle for your solar panel to absorb maximum solar energy.

As such, these panels are fantastic for lighting up patios and backyards. They can reach further distances while not comprising too much width thanks to the sidelights.

Pros:

1. A great value for the price.
2. Sufficiently weatherproof.
3. Super easy to install.

Cons:

1. Difficult to properly set the settings for.
2. Don’t come with good instructions.
3. Don’t have enough settings to choose from.

Overall, these lights are perfect for people who are interested in fine-tuning their solar lights to get the best efficiency and value. If that sounds like you, then you should consider the Dimunt Solar Lights.

#4 – The Original LumiGuard Solar Motion Light by Boundery

Key Features:

• 200 lumens for 0.2 watts at night
• Precise 120° sensing angle and 10-foot range
• Ideal for ambient lighting and landscapes

The Original LumiGuard Solar Motion Lights are a pack of lights that can offer you long-lasting light, which is ideal for people who need solar lights to operate late into the night.

To do so, it uses 0.2 watts at night to provide 200 lumens of light. 200 lumens is bright enough to provide reading light and accent lighting, but it is considered a lower level of light.

It will not reach as far nor be as bright as some other lights. But by providing limited light, the charge is able to last far longer than with brighter outdoor solar motion lights.

Because the lights can be operational for longer, the sensitivity of the lights is not as much of a drawback. It can detect motion at a 120-degree angle and from 10 feet away, which is ample space for lighting areas that may be further from motion – such as a landscape.

Pros

1. Sensitive to movement.
2. Great at lighting up their designated area.
3. Great at charging up quickly.

Cons

1. Smaller than expected.
2. Not very powerful lights.

Overall, these lights are a solid option. if you don’t mind trading brightness for operational time, then these lights will serve you very well. As long as these lights fit your illumination needs, then you can’t go wrong with the Original LumiGuard Solar Motion Lights.

#5 – KOLYES Solar Lights Outdoor – 2 Pack, Ultra Bright Wireless Solar Motion Sensor Lights Outdoor with 3 Lighting Mode

Key Features:

• Three unique lighting modes – Sensor, Dim Light, and Dimmable Sensor
• Lifespan up to 50,000hrs
• Ideal for general outdoor illumination

The KOLYES Solar Light is a great general-purpose, multi-functional choice for your solar lighting needs.

The solar panel and sidelights have some degree of rotation – the panel can tilt 75 degrees, one sidelight can move 135 degrees, and the other sidelight can move 180 degrees. This gives you some flexibility if you wanted to maximize efficiency.

These lights come with 3 different lighting modes, each one designed to suit ever-changing needs – Sensor, Dim Light, and Dimmable Sensor.

The “Sensor” mode will turn on the light for 30 seconds after it detects motion. After these 30 seconds are up, the lights automatically turn back off. This is good for extending the life of the charge and useful for people who don’t need constant outdoor lighting.

The “Dim Light” mode will keep the lights dimly on the whole night, regardless of whether motion is detected or not. The lights will not be as bright as in the “Sensor” mode. This is another way to conserve power while still having some lighting throughout the entire night, which may be beneficial for people who spend a lot of time outdoors in the evening.

The “Dimmable Sensor” mode will combine the two previous modes. It will keep the lights dimly on the whole night and switch to a brighter light after it detects motion. After 30 seconds, the lights will automatically return to their dimly lit state.This consumes the most energy, so it’s best used for people who may be arriving home late and still want some general lighting.

Finally, the lifespan of these lights can last up to a whopping 50,000 hours (about 5.7 years), so you can rest easy knowing that these lights will serve you for years to come.

Pros:

1. Brilliant and clear lighting.
2. Sensitive motion detector – easy to keep pests away.
3. Very affordable.
4. Replaceable solar batteries.

Cons:

1. Range detection can be short.
2. Additional flexibility is to be desired.

Overall, these lights are a good option for people who just want solar lights that can do a bit of everything well. As far as all-purpose solar motion lights go, the KOLYES Solar Light is a great choice to consider.

#6 – Linkind LED Solar Motion Sensor Landscape/Mounted Spotlights

Key Features:

• 650 lumens, 6500K light output
• Wireless design and comes with stakes for ground insertion
• Ideal for illuminating paths and small enclosures

The Linkind LED Solar Motion Sensor Spotlights are small yet powerful. They are perfect for pinpointing certain areas that need to be brightly lit. And with 650 lumens + 6500K light output, you can be sure that your yard will shine brightly.

These lights can be wall-mounted to cover a bigger area, or they can be put into the ground via stakes in order to light up any paths. You can mix and match them to fit your environment as needed, though we recommend using them on the ground. Since they are smaller, it would be best to keep them brightly lighting a path rather than struggling to light a porch.

You can expect the lights to move 180 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically, allowing you to target certain areas a bit easier. There are also two settings to choose from – one that stays off and turns on after motion is detected, and one that stays dimly lit and turns brighter after motion is detected.

Pros:

1. Very bright, especially up close.
2. Long run time.
3. Direct, focused lines of light.
4. Very easy to install.
5. Dual-purpose lighting.

Cons:

1. Short detection range.
2. On the expensive side.

Overall, these lights are a good choice if you are looking to light up paths or other outdoor walkways. That is where these lights best excel, though they are also a good general-use option should you decide to go that route. If that sounds good to you, consider picking up the Linkind LED Solar Motion Sensor Spotlights.

#7 – Solar Spot Lights Outdoor, IkeeRuic 129LED Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights Solar Powered

Key Features:

• 1200 lumens, 6500K high brightness output – lights up to 35 feet
• IP65 waterproof and all-weather resistant
• Ideal for illuminating large paths and medium-sized enclosures

If the last product was good for lighting paths, the IkeeRuic 129LED Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights are great for illuminating everything else.

This is because these lights provide up to a staggering 1200 lumens of light, which is enough to light up 35 feet of space. This makes them ideal for wall mounting, though you are still able to plug them into the ground with provided stakes. If you have larger-sized paths, these lights will serve you well there too.

The lights and panels are IP65 waterproof and all-weather resistant, meaning that they can handle a large variety of environments, whether it’s the sweltering heat, powerful rain, or frigid cold.

You can use dim light, medium light, or high light to customize how bright you want your lights to be. Dim light goes up to 15 feet, medium-light goes up to 25 feet, and high light goes up to 35 feet. You can customize your lighting to best suit your needs, whether that’s more light or a longer-lasting battery.

Pros:

1. Great at deterring animals.
2. Very bright, white lights that can be adjusted in intensity.
3. Work well in rain.
4. Good motion detection.

Cons:

1. Solar panels only move on 1 plane.
2. Wall mounting may be difficult due to the position of the panel.

Overall, these lights are a more powerful alternative to other grounded solar lights while doubling as a solid wall-mounted light. If you are looking for flexible lights that still retain a lot of lighting power, then you can’t go wrong with IkeeRuic 129LED Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights.

#8 – ENGREPO 4-Pack Solar Lights Outdoor, 48 LEDs Solar Powered Motion Sensor Light

Key Features:

• Very sensitive trigger range
• 800 lumens, 6500K high brightness output.
• Ideal for illuminating decks and patios

The ENGREPO 4-Pack Solar Lights are great for achieving lighting closer to that of a street lamp, which can be useful when trying to light up large areas.

A common issue with outdoor solar lights is that the lights are either too focused or too broad, both of which can cause their own lighting issues. But the ENGREPO lights reach the midpoint between these two lighting strengths – the lengthy lights cast directly down or at an angle and provide 800 lumens at 6500K brightness output.

Basically, it means that these lights can cover a larger area AND still be plenty bright.

This makes ENGREPO lights fantastic at lighting decks and patios, but the lights are also solid on the porch, fence, barn, and more.

The motion detector is pretty sensitive too and is able to detect movement 10 – 26 feet away. And all you need to install these lights are two screws; it couldn’t be simpler.

Pros:

1. High brightness output.
2. Covers a wide range.
3. Holds its charge for a long time in the primary setting.
4. Great value for the price.

Cons:

1. Can lose power quickly on continuous use.
2. They are thinner and can be easily battered.

Overall, these lights are great for people who want to use solar energy to cast light on larger areas. If that sounds good to you, then consider picking up ENGREPO 4-Pack Solar Lights.

#9 – DrawGreen Solar Lights Outdoor Motion Sensor of 2

Key Features:

• 1400 lumens, 6500K high brightness output with optics-grade PMMA lens
• Efficient solar panel – only takes 5-6 hours to fully charge
• Ideal for illuminating driveways, porches, gardens, and other large outdoor areas

If you are looking for high-tech outdoor solar lights, DrawGreen Solar Lights won’t disappoint you.

These lights provide 1400 lumens at 6500K brightness output, which is one of the highest brightness levels on the market.

You definitely won’t have to worry about any lingering dark corners. Combined with the optics-grade PMMA (which is 50% lighter, 90% clearer, more durable, and cheaper than glass), the light is absolutely undiluted.

The manufacturer is so confident that they offer a 100-week warranty, which spans just under two years. If there is something wrong with your lights, they will replace them for free or give you all of your money back.

Back to the lights themselves, the solar panels are pretty efficient – they will be fully charged in under 6 hours. The battery can last up to 3-4 days on low-light settings. When the lighting is cranked up to the max, the illumination distance can stretch to 55 feet, which is far longer than many other outdoor solar lights.

As is, these lights are ideal for illuminating larger areas like driveways, front yards, backyards, and other spacious places. You can even remove the metal bracket from the light and use it as an emergency flashlight if you really wanted to.

Pros:

1. Made from aluminum alloy instead of ABS plastic, improving durability and longevity.
2. Has some of the highest light output and furthest light distance.
3. Highly reliable.
4. Easy to mount and install.

Cons:

1. Expensive relative to how many you get.
2. The panel itself cannot be moved.

If you are looking for solar panels that are optimized to deliver the best lighting experience in terms of brightness and distance, then look no further than DrawGreen Solar Lights. These will seriously serve you well.

#10 – NIORSUN LED Solar Pendant Lights

Key Features:

• 400 lumens, 3000K-5000K brightness output
• The solar panel and light body are separated
• Ideal for barns, sheds, and other enclosed areas

NIORSUN LED Solar Pendant Lights are a bit different from the other lights on our list. The lights are completed detached from the solar panels, which gives you way more freedom in how you want to arrange your lights.

More importantly, it means that you can light areas that are enclosed or indoors – as long as the panels themselves get sunlight.

This makes them ideal for barns and sheds in particular, but it also works in any area that has some sort of mountable surface. And since these lights are operated via remote, you won’t have to mess with them directly once they are installed.

The remote allows you to cycle through various options, including setting the warmth of the light. A 3000K light (yellow-ish) is much warmer than the standard 6000K (bright white) light, so you have the option to pursue more ambient lighting if you wanted to.

Pros:

1. Can be used to light up indoor areas
2. Can use a remote to adjust the lights accordingly
3. Can cycle though different light warmths
4. Lasts a long time (up to 16 hours)

Cons:

1. Harder to install
2. Lights are attached to the panel via wire, so the lights are limited in how far they can be apart
3. Cannot rotate or tilt the lights

Overall, these lights are very useful for providing light to the indoors by sacrificing the flexibility that other outdoor solar lights may have. But if you are looking to illuminate any enclosed areas, then the NIORSUN LED Solar Pendant Lights are perfect.

---

What to Look Out for When Picking Outdoor Solar Motion Lights

Here are a few things that you should keep an eye on when shopping around for outdoor solar motion lights.

Be Aware Of How The Lights And The Sensors Operate

Outdoor solar motion lights should obviously be able to pick up and detect motion, but it’s important to know the specifics all the same. You don’t want to put these lights up and later find out that the motion detector can’t actually detect movement due to a lack of range or bad angling.

Here is are some qualities found in a good motion detector:

• 270° wide lighting angle
• 16-26ft sensing distance
• Easily adjustable

With these parameters, it’s fairly easy for a motion to be detected without it being overly sensitive. You wouldn’t want your light to trigger with wind or rainwater, after all.

You should also be aware of whether or not your lights come with additional features. Many outdoor solar motion lights now come with some or all of these settings:

• Auto-On/Auto-Off Mode
• Permanent Night-On Mode
• Smart Brightness Control Mode

Auto-On/Auto-Off Mode turns the lights into security lights. They will automatically turn off when they detect motion and stay on for as long as they detect motion. Once a small amount of time has passed without detecting movement (about 30 seconds), the lights turn off.

Permanent Night-On Mode just means that the lights will turn on at night and stay on all night. Once the lights start to absorb light from the sun, they will turn back off.

Smart Brightness Control Mode will turn the lights on at night, but keep them dim to conserve power and keep a low-key atmosphere. Once motion is detected, the lights will brighten for as long as motion is detected, after which they will dim once no more motion has been detected.

These are just a few examples of the settings that you may find on your outdoor solar motion lights. Make sure to explore all the different options before committing to a certain brand, as one may have features that better suit your lighting needs.

Check That The Solar Motion Lights Are Certified To Weather The Outdoors

Outdoor lights in general are made to weather the outdoors. And as technology continues to improve, it’s becoming rare to see outdoor lights that don’t handle the weather very well.

That’s not to say that there still aren’t bad actors in the industry. So to make sure that your lights can actually stay outside, you are going to want your lights to be outdoor-certified.

What you want to see is the term “IP65”. If you see your lights rated or certified as IP65, you can be confident in their ability to work in a variety of weather conditions.

But what exactly does “IP65” mean, exactly? Simply put, IP is a rating used to determine an electrical product’s ability to keep out moisture and dust. The numbers that come after the IP are the ratings themselves. Sequentially, each number is a separate rating for dust and moisture prevention.

IP65 specifically means that the electrical product has:

• Level 6 protection from dust – it has full protection against dust and other particulates.
• Level 5 protection from moisture – it has protection against low-pressure water jets from all angles, which is more than enough to protect against snow and rain.

This rating should cover most weather conditions barring the more extreme conditions. Those who live in areas with excessive rain, heat, or snow should monitor these lights to ensure that these weather-proof conditions hold.

Make Note Of The Solar Related Specifics – Connection Type, Conversion Rate, and Working Time

Now, we don’t expect you to become solar experts before going out to buy outdoor solar motion lights. Most lights will work for most people who even have a passing interest in the lights.

But if you want to maximize your usage of these lights, then we recommend that you look into the solar specifics for your lights.

Connection Type

The connection type refers to how the solar lights connect to both the solar panel and other electrical sources, if at all.

Some outdoor solar motion lights will have the solar panel attached directly to the lights. This is good for when you plan on placing your lights in areas that are exposed to a lot of the sun during the day. One such place would be along a path in the front yard or the backyard.

Other lights will have their solar panels separate from the lights themselves. This is great for when you want to place your lights indoors like in garages or sheds.

There are even lights that will connect to your home’s electricity for greater reliability, but we caution you on using these lights. They are likely to consume power and defeat the purpose of using eco-friendly solar energy.

Conversion Rate

The conversion rate refers to how long it takes to charge your solar lights. The higher the conversion rate, the faster your lights will be ready to use.

The gold standard range for conversion rate for outdoor solar motion lights clocks in at around 20% to 21%, which is good enough to get a full charge within a day of sun exposure.

Cheaper solar lights may offer lower conversion rates, which in turn might lead to reliability issues if you need light late at night. We don’t recommend going much lower, if at all, than the gold standard range.

Working Time

The working time is a metric that determines how long your solar lights will last on a full charge. Different solar lights have different working times, which can then also change depending on the settings used for the lights.

Settings like the Auto On/Off Mode and Smart Brightness Control allow the solar lights to last much longer than if they were to always be on at night.

The working time can range anywhere from 6 to 12 hours on average. Make sure that your lights are designed to last as long as you need them to, which may include choosing lights that come with settings that extend the working time.

Make Sure That The Installation Works For Your Situation

This may seem obvious, but there have been many people that purchase these lights and find out that they don’t install the way that they need them to.

Like we already said, there are different kinds of solar lights and how they connect. Cordless lights have the advantage of lighting many places as long as its outdoors. These don’t typically require any advanced installation – maybe a few screws at most.

On the other hand, solar lights with cords often attach the lights to the solar panels, allowing you to place the lights indoors. As long as the lights aren’t too far away from the solar panels, of course. You will need to find a place to put the solar panels and might need to build additional holding areas for the lights themselves.

No matter which light you choose, just make sure that it works for your situation. The best and brightest solar light is useless if you can’t actually put it where you need it.

Take Note Of The Light and Battery Lifespan

Like all electrical equipment, there will come a point where things start to burn out, run out, or otherwise fail. You are going to want to confirm when this might happen so that you have a replacement plan in place.

Now, the lights of the solar panels themselves aren’t something you will really have to worry about. Solar LEDs are quite durable and can last up to 10 years of use. You are more likely to lose these lights than for them to give up on you.

The battery that holds the solar charge, on the other hand, is a different story. You can expect the battery to last anywhere from 2-4 years. This is still a good amount of time, especially for continuous usage. But it’s important to note that if you wish to continue to use these lights, you will need to replace the battery eventually.

Thankfully, this isn’t a difficult task. Accessing and replacing the battery usually only requires a screwdriver and some determination. The batteries themselves range from $10 to $25 depending on the quality and quantity.

---

Wrap Up

And with that, we have come to the end of our list. We hope you enjoyed it.

We hope you learned something new and found what you were looking for.

As always, let’s continue to strive for a greener, better way of living!